Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: From Nixon to Carter (1969-1980)

Dec 26 1980 11.1k
Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: From Nixon to Carter (1969-1980) Podcast artwork

From America’s great hope after Nixon’s election victory, to disillusionment after Watergate through to President Carter’s election. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American journalist and broadcaster, Alastair Cooke (1908 – 2004).

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Chrysler financial crisis deepens

Dec 26 1980 14 mins  
Auto workers call on Reagan's help as jobs are threatened by Chrysler cash crisis.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Haig joins Cabinet

Dec 19 1980 14 mins  
Nixon's top aide is offered senior post - but the hearings on his fitness to serve could be damaging. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

John Lennon’s assassination

Dec 12 1980 13 mins  
The shooting of John Lennon on the 8th December 1980 sparks a debate over the need for national gun control law in America.

The waiting game

Dec 05 1980 13 mins  
Hostages and the growing Polish crisis will prove to be among Reagan's first presidential headaches.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Reagan's charm offensive

Nov 28 1980 14 mins  
President-elect Reagan wins over Washington with his charm offensive. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Reagan's political honeymoon

Nov 21 1980 13 mins  
President-elect Reagan turns his honeymoon period into a Washington courtship ritual.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Why the pollsters got it wrong

Nov 14 1980 13 mins  
Humiliation for pollsters who made completely wrong call on the presidential election.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Ronald Reagan’s victory, 1980

Nov 07 1980 13 mins  
As Ronald Reagan wins the 1980 US presidential election, Alistair Cooke reflects on the causes of Jimmy Carter's downfall.

The World Series gets the vote, 1980

Oct 17 1980 14 mins  
The World Series gets the popular vote while the presidential candidates get mean with each other.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

The book-selling business

Oct 10 1980 13 mins  
How the book-selling business creates a bestseller from a book which isn't selling.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.